"I must go," he said, retreating. "Excuse me." He turned and walked out through the sitting room to the door.
"Ch'k'te!"
He turned and looked at her for a moment and then departed through the door. It slid shut behind him, leaving her alone.
***
At 0700 the board of inquiry was waiting for her, still looking stern and forbidding. There were a few other officers in attendance this morning, however, including Admiral Hsien and—in the very back row of seats—Ch'k'te. He looked as though he hadn't slept; she certainly hadn't gotten much rest either, tossing the Dsen'yen'ch'a—and other matters—back and forth in her mind.
"Reporting as ordered, sirs," she said, and took her seat.
"Commodore Laperriere," First Lord Alvarez began, his hawklike features narrowing as he frowned at her over folded hands, "please inform this board what you were doing between approximately 1930 and 2300 hours last night."
"I was attending the—a zor ceremony, Your Grace."
"What sort of ceremony?"
"A Sensitive ceremony called 'the Ordeal of Experience,' Your Grace. It was at the specific invitation of the High Chamberlain T'te'e HeYen." Not quite true, she thought, but the High Chamberlain would back up her story—if he expected her cooperation.
"Did you inform your commanding officer of your attendance at this ceremony?"
"I left a message with the admiral's adjutant, sir, at about 1830."
"Which he did not receive until this morning."
"Your Grace, the board did not dismiss me until 1700. Without orders to the contrary, I felt that standing orders regarding relations with the zor, especially distinguished persons of the High Nest, would indicate that the admiral would wish me to attend. I hope that I have not offended the High Nest in any way."
"The High Nest," the First Lord replied, "is by no means offended. In fact, it has given you high praise. It has used a . . . er, variety of complimentary adjectives to describe you. None of which, I might add, adequately describe this board's present opinion of you."
"Sir."
"I assume," Alvarez continued, "that it would be difficult to describe this 'Ordeal' in terms a—layman—might understand. Since it has no place in this proceeding, I will simply note for the record that, whatever happened, you acquitted yourself in proper form as an officer in His Majesty's Fleet. In any case, it has impressed the High Chamberlain enough for him to invoke the Interservice Cross-Training Agreement.
"The High Chamberlain has requested that you be added to his personal staff."
"Your Grace?"
"His staff, Laperriere. Effective from this date, 1200 hours, you and your executive officer Ch'k'te HeYen are attached to the staff of the Zor High Chamberlain, T'te'e HeYen. The board of inquiry into your actions at Cicero is suspended until further notice."
"Your Grace, I—I'm not sure I understand."
"Understand this, Commodore. The High Chamberlain has asked for you, for whatever purpose, for whatever reason. I can't say I know what this is about, but I can say this: When your tour of duty is done, you will still be answerable to this board. You will still be bound by its decision." Alvarez stood, and the other officers rose with him. Jackie got to her feet hastily. "Until that time, I declare this board in recess."
Chapter 16
THE LEGEND OF QU'U
IN THE TIME OF THE WARRING STATES, BEFORE THE HIERATE OF THE HIGH NEST,
THERE LIVED A WARRIOR [Honor to the High Nest]
IN THE SERVICE OF NEST-LORD A'ALU, WHOSE NAME
WAS QU'U. IN THE HIGH SPEECH QU'U IS A NAME OF
GREAT POWER; BUT THE HIGH SPEECH HAD NOT YET
EVOLVED IN THAT FARGONE DAY. QU'U WAS OF GOOD
REPORT AND WELL-TRAINED, THOUGH NOT OF NOBLE
BLOOD; THE PRINCIPIATE WHICH HE SERVED, THAT OF
N'YEN, WAS CONSTANTLY AT WAR WITH ITS NEARBY
RIVAL, [Cloak of Defense]
THE MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF U'HERA.
EACH OF THE TWO CONTENDING PROVINCES HAD
SPENT CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES IN TRYING TO SUB-
DUE THE OTHER, TO LITTLE AVAIL. E'YEN, A RICH AND
BOUNTIFUL LAND, WAS DOTTED WITH MANY FORTIFIED
CASTLES, WROUGHT IN STRONG STONE AND WOUND
ABOUT WITH MANY CHARMS AND SPELLS, WHILE
U'HERA, A POORER AND MEANER LAND, WAS GIFTED
WITH MANY NATURAL BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES, MAK-
ING IT DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME. DURING QU'U'S
PREPARATION AND TRAINING AS A WARRIOR, THE TWO [Wings Contend]
LANDS FOUGHT MANY BITTER BATTLES, SOME BETWEEN
ENEMY ARMIES, AND OTHERS BY MORE SUBTLE AND
LESS HONORABLE MEANS—FOR THE PEOPLE OF THAT
TIME WERE WITHOUT THE INNER AND OUTER PEACE
AND KNEW NO BOUNDS IN HATE OR WAR. BUT
THOUGH THOSE ANCESTORS DID NOT KNOW HONOR,
THEY DID KNOW DESPITE, AND FELT THE HEAVY HAND
OF ESGA'U MEDDLING IN [Barrier Before Despite]
THEIR DISPUTES.
THE ARMIES OF U'HERA HAD BEEN DRIVEN OFF IN AN
INVASION LATE IN THE SEASON ONE YEAR, AND THE
WARRIORS OF E'YEN HAD TAKEN UP WINTER QUAR-
TERS IN SEVERAL FORTRESSES ALONG THE BORDER
BETWEEN THE TWO LANDS. QU'U, WHO HAD ACQUIT-
TED HIMSELF WELL IN THE PRECEDING MONTHS, HAD
BEEN ASSIGNED WITH HIS CONTINGENT TO THE CAS-
TLE NE'ESLL'E, WHICH MEANS "GUARDIAN OF THE
NEST OF ESLI" [Guardian of the Nest]
THOUGH-WINTERS WERE HARSH IN THAT PART OF THE
LANDS, THE E'YEN'L WARRIORS WERE MINDFUL OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR-TREACHERY, AND MADE SURE TO
GUARD THEIR CHARGES BY DAY AND NIGHT.
ON A PARTICULAR NIGHT, WHEN FIRST MOON WAS
HIGH IN THE SKY, QU'U WAS WALKING ALONG THE
WATCHTOWER SCANNING THE SKIES FOR THE WINGS OF
INVADERS, KEEN OF EYE AND [Posture of Approach]
BRAVE OF HEART, HE WAS ATTENTIVE TO HIS DUTY
AND WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED THAT HIS DILIGENCE
COULD BE EVADED. NONETHELESS, AS HE REACHED
THE END OF HIS POST, HE HEARD THE NOISE OF WINGS
FLUTTERING BEHIND HIM. HE TURNED QUICKLY TO
FACE A DISTINGUISHED ELDERLY PERSON, SETTLING
INTO A PERCHED POSITION ON THE WALL OF THE CASTLE.
"FRIEND OR FOE?" QU'U ASKED, HOLDING HIS BLADE
OUT BEFORE HIM. [The Drawn chya]
THE STRANGER, UNPERTURBED BY THE OBVIOUS
THREAT QU'U POSED, MERELY SETTLED HIS WINGS IN A
POSTURE OF DEFERENCE TO ESLI. [Deference to esLi]
"YOU ARE IN A WAR ZONE, DISTINGUISHED ELDER,"
QU'U SAID, UNSURE, HE LOOKED AROUND, TO HIS SUR-
PRISE, NO ONE ELSE ON GUARD SEEMED TO BE TAKING
NOTICE OF HIS ENCOUNTER, "I MUST ASK YOU TO—"
"YOU ARE QU'U, SON OF CHE'E," THE STRANGER
INTERRUPTED. "WARRIOR OF THE E'YEN?"
[Stance of Qu'u]
"I AM QU'U," QU'U REPLIED. "AND YOU—"
"MY NAME IS UNIMPORTANT. I AM A MESSENGER AND I
HAVE A MESSAGE FOR QU'U."
"WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE?"
[Honor to esLi]
"I BEAR THE GREETINGS OF THE LORD ESLI," THE
OLDER ONE INTONED, AND THE HOLY NAME ECHOED
THROUGH THE AIR LIKE THE PEALING OF A GREAT
BELL. "THE LORD WISHES TO CONVEY HIS RESPECTS
AND GRATITUDE TO YOU, MIGHTY WARRIOR QU'U, FOR
YOUR DILIGENCE AND BRAVERY AS AN HONORABLE WARRIOR.
"IT IS NO IDLE THING THAT THE LORD CHOOSES TO
SPEAK TO YOU, WARRIOR QU'U, FOR HE PROPOSES TO
LAY UPON YOU A JOYOUS AND TERRIBLE BURDEN.
THE SERVANTS OF THE [Descent to the Plain]
DECEIVER ARE ABROAD IN THE LANDS, AND SEEK
TO DESTROY ALL OF THE NESTS THROUGH A WEAPON OF
HORRIBLE POW
ER; WITHOUT YOUR HELP, THEY MIGHT
WELL SUCCEED."
"WITHOUT ME?" QU'U ASKED. "I AM A WARRIOR, AS
YOU SAY. I HAVE FOUGHT IN COMBAT FOR MY NEST, BUT
I AM YOUNG AND HAVE NOT AS YET ACHIEVED FULL
MASTERY. YOU MUST NOT WANT TO CHARGE ME WITH
ANY BURDEN."
"ON THE CONTRARY, MIGHTY WARRIOR," THE MESSEN-
GER REPLIED. "THE LORD ESLI ASKS FOR YOUR SERVICE
[Honor to the Warrior]
AND YOURS ALONE. YOU MUST UNDERTAKE A JOURNEY
FOR HIM AND UNDERTAKE A MOST IMPORTANT TASK.
"YOU MUST TRAVEL TO THE PLAIN OF DESPITE AND
FIND THE SWORD THAT WILL BECOME THE GYARYU,
THE TALON OF ESLI." [Talon of State]
"AND HOW COULD I FIND SUCH A WEAPON OR
EVEN TRAVEL TO SUCH A PLACE?" QU'U MENACED THE MES-
SENGER AGAIN, WONDERING WHETHER HE WAS BEING
DECEIVED. "I AM NOT A SENSITIVE, AND CANNOT
SENSE THE POWER."
"AGAIN YOU DENY ME, MIGHTY WARRIOR QU'U. BUT
ESLI HAS SEEN YOUR FUTURE, AND KNOWS YOUR
WORTH."" [Parting the Shroud]
"WHAT OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES HERE? I MUST MAIN-
TAIN MY POST HERE ON THE WALLS OF NE'ESLL'E,
TO WATCH FOR THE [Honor of the Warrior]
TREACHEROUS U'HERA. AS YOU HAVE SAID, I AM A
WARRIOR AND MUST PLACE MY DUTY TO NEST AND
LORD ABOVE ANY PERSONAL GLORY."
"I COULD SAY TO YOU THAT YOUR DUTY TO THE LORD
ESLI OVERWEIGHS ANY OTHER DUTY; I COULD POINT
OUT TO YOU AGAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR OWN
ROLE IN THE UPCOMING [The Dark Wing]
STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND DARK WING—
BUT YOUR WARRIOR'S DUTY WOULD STILL REMAIN. I
HAIL YOU, HONORABLE QU'U AND ASSURE YOU THAT
YOU WILL BE RELIEVED OF THAT BURDEN ERE YOU
DEPART FOR THE PLAIN OF DESPITE."
QU'U LOOKED AWAY FROM THE STRANGER, THE MOON-
LIGHT CATCHING HIS PROFILE. "THERE IS ONE OTHER
THING THAT YOU MUST [Confronting anGa 'e'ren]
KNOW BEFORE YOU PLACE YOUR HOPE AND EXPECTA-
TION WITH ME. THOUGH I AM A BLOODED WARRIOR
AND HAVE BEEN TRUSTED WITH THE DUTY YOU SEE ME
HERE CARRYING OUT, I AM UNWORTHY OF YOUR BUR-
DEN BECAUSE I HAVE TASTED GREAT FEAR. I AM COW-
ARDLY, DISTINGUISHED ELDER, THOUGH IT PAINS ME
TO EXPRESS IT AND IT STAINS MY FAMILY HONOR TO
LET IT BE KNOWN."
"MIGHTY QU'U," THE MESSENGER REPLIED, "IT IS NOT [Honor of the Warrior]
DISHONORABLE TO KNOW FEAR. IT IS A FOOLHARDY
WARRIOR WHOSE ACTIONS ARE NOT TEMPERED BY
THOUGHTS OF HIS OWN MORTALITY, FOR SURELY
THERE IS NO GREATER WASTE THAN A WARRIOR WHO
GIVES UP HIS LIFE WHILE ACHIEVING NOTHING. TO DIE
IN BATTLE IS GLORIOUS ONLY IF SOME GREAT
PURPOSE IS ACHIEVED, WHAT IS MORE, [Glory of Outer Peace]
YOU ARE NO COWARD, FOR IT REQUIRED GREAT
COURAGE FOR YOU TO SPEAK YOUR FEARS ALOUD TO ME.
"I ACCEPT YOU, MIGHTY QU'U. YOU ARE BRAVE, HON-
ORABLE, RESPONSIBLE AND MODEST; YOU HAVE DENIED
ME FOUR TIMES AND I HAVE ANSWERED YOU. WHEN
YOUR WATCH ENDS, GO AND [Honor to esLi]
PREPARE WITH YOUR FRIEND AND COMPANION HYOS
FOR YOUR JOURNEY TO THE PLAIN OF DESPITE." THE
STRANGER CLAPPED HIS TALONS TOGETHER—
AS QU'U WATCHED IN WONDERMENT, A BRIGHT FLASH
OF LIGHT OBSCURED HIS VISION. WHEN HE COULD SEE
ONCE MORE, THE STRANGER WAS GONE.
For a few days, Owen's sleep was filled with images from the same scene, with minor variations. Sometimes there'd be a bit more dialogue; sometimes he'd shoot one of the aliens before it escaped. But it basically ended the same way; they were invading his mind and it felt like they were ripping it apart.
The story didn't seem to trouble Captain Abbas or any of the others who gathered at the Shield. They took it as a good sign that he was remembering anything, but they shrugged it off as a feature of the war with this new enemy. For the regulars at the Shield, it was difficult to deal with aliens they couldn't see—or worse yet, that they couldn't tell apart from a friend.
"This is all the part of those damn Sensitives," Abbas said one night, nine or ten days after the dreams started.
"How do you figure that?"
Abbas looked at Owen. "You don't know? It's the Sensitives—especially the zor—that brought this down on us. From what I hear, they couldn't leave well enough alone. They were casting their minds around the universe and drew the attention of the aliens. That's how they found us."
"I find that hard to believe," Owen answered.
"Well." Abbas squinted at Owen in the harsh light. "I don't really give a damn what you believe. From what I understand, the zor found these aliens eleven years ago and didn't say any thing to anyone. Next thing you know they're everywhere: taking over ships, invading the Empire."
"And the Sensitives—"
"Well, they've been subverted, haven't they? Ask anyone in this bar what they think of the Sensitives on their ships. They went over to the enemy, as quick as you please. Now maybe—maybe—it was against their will, but in the end it comes of meddling in things we don't understand. They stood by on the Negri as we . . . attacked the Gustav Adolf II. Now they're all working for the new boss." He took a drink and looked away, as if he couldn't continue.
"Have all of the Sensitives sold out?"
"All the ones on the Negri did." Abbas held his drink tightly in his hand. "They didn't have any trouble with it. From what I hear they didn't have much trouble at Cicero either."
"Not true. They got more than they bargained for at Cicero." Owen looked away, thinking about Leung, Khalid, Cox and the rest. "And it still wasn't enough."
"I don't know how it will be. If we can't tell who's human and who's a . . . who's one of the aliens . . . Hell, you could be one."
"I'm not." Then Owen found himself continuing: "And neither are you."
Abbas looked up. "Are you sure?" He put his hands on his head and wiggled his fingers. "Booga-booga."
Owen began to laugh, and then suddenly the strangest feeling came over him. It was as if the room had suddenly come into sharp focus. He looked closely at Damien Abbas and knew with absolute certainty that he wasn't an alien. He was sure, though he had no idea why.
Abbas said something, but whatever it was made no sense. All of a sudden nothing made any sense. He looked away from Abbas, letting his gaze travel from person to person; each one looked perfectly normal—
There. There was one man in coveralls sitting all alone near a vidscreen, a drink sitting untouched in front of him, watching his conversation with Abbas.
In the middle of the din of incomprehensible noise he heard the man speak clearly to him.
"You don't see me," he said.
Owen shook his head and looked down at the table—
"Garrett," Abbas was saying, "What the hell—" He'd lowered his hands from his head and was looking concerned.
"You're no alien," Owen said. "But I know someone who is." As Abbas began to protest, he added, "Look over to your right. There's an alien in this room, over near that screen."
"How do you know?"
"I can't say. But I'm sure. And I've got some questions for him." He felt his anger rising again, and it must've alarmed Abbas.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm more all right than I've been since I got dropped on this rock. Now I'm going to have a talk with this chump. You can help me or not, as you like." He pushed back from the table and nodded to Abbas, not looking at the figure he absolutely knew was an alien.
"I'm in," the Negri's captain said. He took a quick glance where Owen had indicated, then stood up an
d began to walk in a circle, heading toward the table. Owen took the other direction; from across the room they caught each other's eyes as they closed on their target from two directions.
"Go have a seat," he heard. "Have another drink." The voice was superior and arrogant; the alien was watching him as he moved through the crowd.
He shrugged it off. Again he felt a moment of complete clarity and everything in the room became nothing more than back ground. The vidscreen above the alien's seat came to life, showing some sort of abstract rainbow pattern; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet light cascaded across the alien's face as it turned ever so slowly to face Owen. It reminded him of something, but he couldn't place it.
"I am not here," the alien said, and the edges of Owen's vision seemed to cloud. I am not here, he heard in his mind. The man began to smile as Owen stopped, unsure.
Suddenly the room snapped into focus. Damien Abbas' hands had clapped onto the alien's shoulders, turning him away from Owen.
"Is this the one, Lieutenant?" Abbas said loudly, looking away from the man's eyes. "This the one who insulted you?"
Before Owen could reply, the alien looked from him to Abbas and back, real fear in his eyes. "There's some mistake," he heard, and in his mind—There's some mistake—but the voice didn't sound quite so arch and superior now.
"No," Owen said. "No mistake." He grabbed one of the man's arms and Abbas grabbed the other. They half lifted, half marched the man out of the bar and onto the busy street.
"You've got two choices," Owen hissed as they pulled him into the alley between the Shield and the dispensary. "You can answer a few questions and then slide off into wherever you belong, or you can die right here and right now." He leaned close. "Time to choose."
"I will answer," the other said. "But I do not understand why—"
Owen shrugged and looked away, then turned and punched the alien hard in the stomach. He doubled over in pain; Abbas was amused and held the alien's neck down with his hand.
"I'll ask. You answer. What are you doing watching us?"
"Surveillance," the man managed to say. "Directions from . . . from—"
"From?"
"Ór," the alien said.
"Or what?" Abbas answered.
"The Ór," the alien said, trying and failing to come free of Abbas' hand.
The Dark Path Page 22
